(1829) SPIRIT AND MEANING OF SPACE IN BENIN DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE NIGERIA

摘要

The domestic architecture of a place describes the people culture, religion and beliefs while themeaning of domestic space reveals the spirit of domestic architectural. Consequently, the difference inhouses size, height and ornamentation across Benin City is dependent on some dynamics. Benindomestic architecture across the city showing modifications along timeline/periods, as houses wereidentified cross sectionally from 40BC - 2100A.D. The paper examined meaning of domestic spacesin Benin house-types collected across the city. The study used triangulation method (i.e.questionnaire, space syntax and interview guide) to describe meaning of spaces. The finding wasdiscussed along activities spaces (like cooking and eating, household storage, sleeping arrangement,personal hygiene, outdoor, receiving guest, worship socialization, ceremonies and festival). Theresearch result revealed that meaning of domestic spaces in domestic architecture can explain thespirit of the space, the people's culture and social ideology.